Electrical refrigerator shelf



Dec. 27, 1938. v SCOTT 2,142,008

ELECTRI GAL REFRIGERATOR S HELP Filed May 21, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet l [NI/ENTOR HAROLD 1 50077.

BY? 17, W

ATTORNE).

Dec. 27, 1938. H v COTT 2,142,008

v ELECTRICAL REFRIGERATOR SHELF Filed May 21, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVZNTOR; Haw/.0 l4 Scarf ATTORNEY,

Patented Dec. 27, 1938 UNITED STATES PA 1 ENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

My invention relates to refrigerators and more particularly to cooling chambers and the acces sories thereof.

An object of my invention is to utilize the antifriction tray supporting balls or rollers for performing the additional function of spacing the tray from the cooling chamber wall.

Another object is to enable the removal of-a tray from the chamber through a relatively narl row door, thus tending to prevent a positive increase of the temperature of the chamber incident to a relatively larger door opening.

Further objects are to facilitate the removal of the trays; facilitate the manipulation of the i trays; and to prevent accidental tilting of the trays when the chamber door is open.

Still another object of my invention is to have the ice cube container on top with a separate door, this also tending to conserve the frigid :0 temperature due to the fact that the large door is left closed when taking out the cubes.

And still another object is to be able to build a round refrigerator in order to fit round trays and at the same time saving material and labor as in the manufacturing over the ordinary square refrigerator as well as having a uniform wall on the inside.

An additional object is to secure the above ends in a simple and inexpensive construction.

To the above ends primarily my invention consists in such parts and in such combinations of parts as falls within the scope of the appended claims;

In the accompanying drawings which form a part of this specification,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a refrigerator of the electric type embodying my invention, the door being shown open, also showing the ice cube chamber with the door open, and showing a tray folded ready to be removed.

Figure 2 is a cross sectional view taken at 2--2 Figure 1 with door closed.

Figure 3 is enlarged fragmentary top view of tray hinge as at Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a section taken at 4-4, Figure 2 showing on an enlarged scale the ball. bail bracket and tray in place.

Figure 5 is a section taken at 55 Figure 4 with tray in position as shown in Figure 4.

Figure 6 is modified form of construction using a roller instead of a ball.

Figure '7 is a section taken at 1-1 Figure 6 with tray in position as shown at- Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a top elevation on an enlarged scale of the tray only.

Figure 9 is a partial sectional view taken at 99 Figure 8.

Figure 10 is a section taken at i0--l0 Figure 8.

Figure 11 is a partial sectional view taken at lI--Il Figure 8. 7 6

Figure 12 is'a section taken at l2-i2 Figure 10 showing hinge.

Figure 13 is the same as Figure 12 only in a folded position.

Similar characters of reference indicate simi- 10 lar parts throughout the views.

As stated above the refrigerator is round and has a plurality of trays' which may rotate in order to eliminate the ordinary method of finding what is wanted, for instance, after shopping 15 and when all perishable foods are in the refrigerator, it is necessary, when looking for an article, to take out most foods that are placed on the trays in order to find the article wanted, but with this invention all that is necessary is to turn 10 the said trays in either direction until found without molesting anything else.

Referring to Figure 1, I4 is the casing of an electric refrigerator of the cylindrical form, of which i5 is the floor, I6 is the cylindrical outer :5 shell and I1 the top, all provided with suitable insulation l8 and including an internal cylindrical wall I! constituting the side of a cooling chamber 20. The side I6 is provided with a rectangular opening 2| for the reception of a transso versely curved insulated door 22 supported by hinges 23 and whose inner wall 24 is continuous with the wall l9 when the door is closed, and another door 25 of the same character as door 22 only smaller in height is provided for the cube container compartment over door 22.

Integral with or attached to the wall is are ball retainer brackets 26 equally spaced, in this instance 4 in number located as shown in Figure 2. These ball retainer brackets are cup shaped 40 or having semi-circular impressions embossed downward in order to accommodate balls 30 as shown in Figure 4. Said cup having a drain hole 21 for the purpose of draining water, moisture etc. from the ball seat. It will be noted t that tray 28 at Figure 4 has a radial formed portion 29 on outer members 34 of tray, said radial portion following the contour of ball 30 down to its centerline and providing means of eliminating the possibilities of having said tray 28 hitting 50 or touching the circular refrigerator wall while being turned or rotated. In other words, this curved portion acts as a guide when placed over balls 30.

In Figures 6 and '7, a modified form of constructionis shown usingsubstantialiy semi-ellipticalroilersilinsteadofballasaidrollersbeing heldinaretainerflsomewhatsimilartobail retainer" exceptthatthe depressionismadeto conform with the shape of the roller. and said brackethavingontheinnerendanopenspaoea usedasadrainasshownatl'lgure'l.

Flgureaisanenlargedpartialviewoftrayil showninFigureZdisclosingthehingeconstm tion of both outer members I4 ofsaid tray 2|.

'Oneendofmemberflhasaturnedoverear assemblies, which are exactly the same in const'ruction, are riveted together at both ends by shoulder rivet 35 the results will give a folding tray which will be uniform of contour as shown at Figure 8. The shape of ears ll-A and il-g-B are clearly shown at Figures 12 and 13.

Figure 8 shows thetray 28 in rotating or turning position as installed in the refrigerator as shown in broken lines at Figure 1. The tray assembly is made up of a plurality of rods 38 of diiferent lengths to conform to the attaching location distance. said rods having flat ends as shown in order that they may be riveted, welded or attached by other means to members 34 as shown also at Figures 9.and 10. Rods II are slightly different in construction, the rods instead of being straight as rods 88, are shaped as shown at is Figure 11 in order to clear the ears when folding the tray and are bent to one side where 40 they are attached to member 34 as shown at Figure 8; These rods are shown as a preferable construction but other material may be used such as screen and the like.

It is evident that these trays will rotate freely 5 and that when it is necessary to remove them, and

said trays being of larger diameter than the openingofthe door.allthatisnistopushthe trayupwardatthecentersnditwillfoldresdy be removed through the small opening of refrigerator.

While I have illustrated and ducribed the ferred form of construction of my invention, I do notwishtobelimitedtotheprecisedetailsofthe" structure shown but desire to avail myself of such variations and modifications as may come within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as new is:

i. In a refrigerating chamber. a who wall. spaced brackets attached to the saidcyiindrical wall and the brackets having cups carrying anti-friction balls, a circular detachable tray comprisingspacedrods,thesaidrodssecuredtoa downwardly curved peripheral member and the said downwardly curved peripheral member engaging the said anti-friction balls so that the circular tray can be rotated at will.

2. In a refrigerating chamber, a cylindrical wall. spaced brackets attached to the said cylindrical wall and the said brackets having cups carrying anti-friction balls, a foldable tray comprising two semi-circular sections having flanged peripheral portions, the said flanged peripheral ing depending ear members at each end. and the said ear members being secured together by means forming therewith a hinge, the said foldable tray being composed of a plurality of rods secured to the peripheral portions, a rod on each side of the ear members being bent so that the said tray can be folded, and the outer peripheral member of the lfg'lfiilable tray adapted to engage the anti-friction mm v. scan. 

